Receptacle



May 119, 31936. 1.. .1. JOH'NSON RECEPTACLE Filed July 1, 1955 12' Lat/i5 J (bk/15011 llllllllllllllll!(111 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT QF'FICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a box or receptacle primarily but not necessarily adapted for outdoor use on a porch, the side of the house or the like, so as to form an eficient, waterproof, snowproof means for receiving and holding letters, cards, bills, or the like, especially in a position where the information thereof is concealed.

It is further aimed to provide a device of the foregoing character generally of wedge-shape with novel fastening means serving to maintain the parts or sections thereof against relative displacement and permitting forward yielding movement of the box as a whole so that it may be swung away from its support to receive and clasp newspapers or the like behind the same.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device; Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the holder is generally of wedge-shape with its narrower end uppermost. Such holder or receptacle is generally designated Ill and consists of a base section H and a holder section [2. The latter section in addition to a main wall l3, has triangular side walls [4 and their free longitudinal edge portions are formed into outwardly extending flanges which are slidably disposed in U-shaped or hook flanges H5 at the longitudinal free edges of the section or plate I I.

Through the flanges l5 and I6, screws or other fastenings l1 are passed which enter the support [8 in order to mount the box or receptacle. Expansive coil springs I9 surround the screws ll, abutting the flanges l6 and heads on the screws.

The upper end portion of the section II is forwardly curled to provide a tube as at 2| which effectively sheds and prevents the entrance of water, the upper end of the section l4 terminating within the curled portion 2|. It will also be noted that the flange I6 is continued at the side edges of the curled portion 2 I.

Within the receptacle, a suitable retaining means is provided, preferably in the form of a retaining spring 22 tending to press against the wall II, and being fastened as at 23 in any suitable way to the front wall l3, for instance, by welding.

It will be noted that the device is open at the bottom and closed at the top and side and hence the contents will be protected against the action of the elements. The device also may be made in any desired size and in one size will provide a very efiicient letter box. In other sizes it may be used for" the reception of bills, cards, or the like. In any event, the material received is thrust into the receptacle from below and will be retained by the spring 22, in a position where the same will not likely be inspected from pure curiosity.

In the event, newspapers, or articles too big to be thrust into the receptacle are received, the curled portion 2| may be engaged as a handle and pulled toward the operator. This will cause the receptacle to swing on the lower edge of the section II as a fulcrum, moving toward the operator against the tension of springs 19 and compressing the same and moving the upper end of the wall H away from the support 18, enabling the newspaper or the like to be disposed between the wall I l and support l8 above the fastening ll. After the device is thereupon released, the tension of the spring l9 will serve to clasp the newspaper or the like in place. It will be realized that the openings in the flanges l5 and I6 through which the fastenings I! pass are of a size to provide the necessary clearance for the slight rocking or pivotal movement of the receptacle as a whole.

The fastenings I! also prevent relative movement for downward displacement of the section [3 relatively to the section II.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A receptacle of the class described of substantially Wedge-shape having its larger end open and lowermost and holder means within the re-, ceptacle, means to mount the receptacle having a resilient element urging the receptacle against a support, said means permitting the receptacle to be swung away from the support at one end, so that matter may be placed behind the same and the resilient element serve to clamp the matter in place.

2. A receptacle of the class described of substantially wedge-shape having its larger end open and lowermost and holder means within the receptacle, said receptacle comprising relatively movable sections, and fastening means to secure the receptacle in place passing through the sections and preventing relative displacement thereof, said fastening means including a resilient element urging the receptacle against a support, said means permitting the receptacle to be swung away from the support at one end, so that matter may be placed behind the same and the resilient element serve to clamp the matter in place.

3. A receptacle of the class described of substantially wedge-shape having its larger end open and lowermost and holder means within the receptacle, said receptacle comprising relatively movable sections, and fastening means to secure the receptacle in place passing through the sections and preventing relative displacement thereof said fastening means including a resilient element urging the receptacle against a support, said means permitting the receptacle to be swung away from the support at one end, so that matter may be placed behind the same and the resilient element serve to clamp the matter in place, said sections having interengaged flanges.

4. A receptacle of the class described of substantially wedge-shape having its larger end open and lowermost and holder means within the receptacle, said receptacle comprising relatively movable sections, and fastening means to secure the receptacle in place passing through the sections and preventing relative displacement thereof said fastening means including a resilient element urging the receptacle against a support, said means permitting the receptacle to be swung away from the support at one end, so that matter may be placed behind the same and the resilient element serve to clamp the matter in place, said sections having interengaged flanges, one of the sections having side walls of triangular shape.

5. A receptacle of the class described of substantially wedge-shape having its larger end open and lowermost and holder means within the receptacle, said receptacle comprising forward and rear sections, one of the sections at its upper end being curled over the end of the other section, means to mount the receptacle having a resilient element urging the receptacle against a support, said means permitting the receptacle to be swung away from the support at one end, so that matter may be placed behind the same and the spring serve to clamp the matter in place.

6. A receptacle of the class described of substantially wedge-shape having its larger end open and lowermost and holder means within the receptacle, said receptacle comprising relatively movable sections, fastening means to secure the receptacle in place passing through the sections and preventing relative displacement thereof, said sections having interengaged flanges, one of the sections having side walls of triangular shape, spring means on the fastening means urging the receptaacle against the support therefor and permitting the receptacle to be swung at one end away from the support.

LOUIS J. JOHNSON. 

